Rochelle Phyllis Arends verbally abuses media as she arrives at Albany court accused of stealing from elderly

A woman accused of stealing at least $25,000 from elderly victims in Albany has verbally abused members of the media outside court as she arrived for her first appearance on a string of charges. Rochelle Phyllis Arends, 23, was charged with 11 counts of fraud and seven counts of stealing after her arrest outside Spencer Park Shopping Centre on Thursday last week. The Spencer Park woman arrived at Albany Magistrates Court this morning smoking a cigarette and carrying documents which she briefly used to hide her face. She insulted members of the media as she walked past them, asking if they had anything better to do and calling them “c...suckers”. Once inside the court, her defence lawyer Kyah Langdon requested an adjournment so her client to seek further legal advice before entering pleas. Magistrate Dianne Scaddan granted an adjournment and extended her bail. Her bail conditions include a 24-hour curfew. Police will allege Ms Arends targeted elderly and vulnerable victims between September 15, 2020 and May 5, 2021, making ATM withdrawals against their wishes and accessing internet banking to make cash transfers. Police will also allege she befriended victims and stole property from their homes. Speaking at Albany Police Station last Friday, Detective Acting Inspector Darryl Noye alleged Ms Arends had been targeting people in the “retirement phase” of life. “We would allege she offers a reason to these gentlemen as to why she needs money and preys upon their good nature and their vulnerability as being elderly and wanting to look after people in the community,” he said. “We’d be alleging the lady is not being forthright in regards to the reasons that she is asking for this money and the victims are feeling sorry for her and this has been an influence in them handing over money for a purpose that is not truthful.” Acting Insp. Noye said the investigation was ongoing and anyone with information should contact police. “We would appreciate families who do have elderly parents to check in with them and make sure that someone is not taking advantage of them in regards to where their savings might be disappearing from their bank accounts,” he said. “If they do notice that their parents are no longer living the same lifestyle or have money missing from their account that should be there, then we ask them to come forward to the Albany Police Station so we can undertake a further investigation.” Ms Arends is due to reappear at Albany Magistrates Court in court on July 1.